Natural Man

The word "natural" has so many definitions!  We'll examine 2 definitions.

Definition 1. As used in "the natural man is an enemy to God" it means: being in a state of nature without spiritual enlightenment or having a physical existence as contrasted with one that is spiritual.  In this definition we are human beings first and foremost who need to be changed by a spiritual experience.

Definition 2. In this definition it means having a form or appearance found in nature - which for us means we are made in the likeness of God. In this definition we are spiritual beings having a human experience.

I happen to believe this second definition is what is meant in our scriptures. I have quoted this sentence often enough:

I am a daughter of heavenly parents with a divine nature and infinite potential.

I walk by faith

A daughter of heavenly parents

Divine in nature by inheritance.

My spirit whispers of my mission,

My individual worth. . .

So what is King Benjamin talking about then since he is quoted so often. We have to assume he was referring to an "acquired worldliness".

I leave you with a quote from Brigham Young - one that I like a lot.

"Paul says, in his Epistle to the Corinthians, 'but the natural man receiveth not the things of God,' but I say it is the unnatural  'man that receiveth not the things of God'. The natural man is of God. We are the natural sons and daughters of our natural parents and spiritually we are the natural children of the Father of Light and natural heirs to His kingdom; and when we do an evil, we do it in opposition to the promptings of the Spirit of Truth that is within us. Man, the noblest work of God, was in His creation designed for an endless duration, for which the love of all good was incorporated into his nature.

It was never designed that he should naturally do and love evil. When our first parents felt from their Paradisaical state, they were brought into contact with influences and powers of evil that are unnatural and stand in opposition to endless life. So far as mankind yield to these influences, they are so far removed from a natural to an unnatural state - from life to death."